Getting to Redskins Opener on Sunday

Fans have had some preseason practice getting to FedEx Field, but 1 p.m. Sunday marks the first regular season football game for the Redskins, and it always takes some getting used to. Plus, some drivers who use that portion of the Beltway only to reach games may be unfamiliar with the new lane configurations near the stadium exits. So here are some of the basics.

Driving to Games
Leave home early to reduce the time you sit in traffic. The stadium will be open to all ticket holders two hours before game time, but the parking lots open four hours before kickoff. This map on the Redskins site shows the approaches to the stadium.

There are three Beltway interchanges near the stadium in Landover: Central Avenue, Arena Drive and Landover Road. The Maryland State Highway Administration suggests Central Avenue as a less congested route to FedEx Field. These are the nearby exits into the stadium parking lots from the Beltway.

New Parking This Season
The Redskins added a Gray lot off Landover Road to provide more parking for season ticket holders on stadium grounds. Nearly 3,000 spaces have been added on stadium property. Parking attendants now will direct fans who want to tailgate in more than one space to the backs of lots. Fans who want only to park or to tailgate within their single space will be directed to the front of lots. Drivers leaving the lots after games will be directed to dedicated traffic lanes to ease congestion.

New on the Beltway
The Beltway in the Landover area will look different to some fans. The Maryland State Highway Administration is wrapping up a project that will keep Arena Drive open full time, rather than just for special events. This meant building collector-distributor lanes on both Beltway loops to the north and south of Arena Drive. Through drivers who find themselves to the right of the solid white line in this area shouldn't swerve left. Just keep going straight, and you can remain on the Beltway.

Metrorail
If you feel up to a walk of slightly less than a mile along a sidewalk, the Blue Line's Morgan Boulevard station on the Blue Line is the closest station to FedEx Field. The station is nine-tenths of a mile from the stadium and a new walkway offers direct access to the stadium. The Largo Town Center station, also on the Blue Line, is one mile away from the stadium.

After each game, Metro will have additional trains available for fans traveling home from Morgan Boulevard. If you plan to park at either Morgan Boulevard or Largo station to go to the game, remember you're going to have to pay a $25 fee with a SmarTrip card upon exiting.